Formula One news

New kerbs change circuit, says Heidfeld

Nick Heidfeld has explained that the addition of new combination kerbs at Monza forces drivers to adapt their styles accordingly. The BMW team ran a smaller and lower rear wing in Italian Grand Prix practice on Friday to allow Heidfeld and team-mate Robert Kubica to finish the day fifth and seventh.

After a double points finish in Belgium, BMW-Sauber - which is still searching for a buyer ahead of 2010 - is determined to prove that it can succeed before the Bavarian manufacturer bows out of Formula One at the end of the season. The new wing allows the car to enjoy lesser amounts of drag on the high-speed circuit.

This year, cars are likely to be punished more than drivers if chicane cutting takes place

"The lap times are not bad, especially when you take into account that I did my fastest lap in the second session quite early on and even had some traffic," Heidfeld said of his best effort. "The car's balance is better than it has been on some other Fridays but there is still room for improvement."

The kerbs of the Rettifilo and Roggia chicanes now peak to 15 centimetres above the track surface; what does 'Quick Nick' make of the new installations? "The height of the new kerbs changes the circuit quite a lot - you have to get used to it and look where you can still go over them and which ones you better avoid," he explained.

"At the end of the second session I pitted a few minutes early after I went straight on at the Ascari chicane and wanted to have the car checked."

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